12: How Can AI Make This Easier? Real-Life Uses Beyond the Office

AI isn't just for work anymore. In this episode, Erika explores how asking one simple question—"How can AI make this easier?"—can transform your approach to everyday challenges. From fixing appliances to planning travel, organizing meals, and curating reading lists, discover how the AI problem-solving mindset can save you time, money, and frustration in your personal life. Episode Highlights: The Harvard Business Review research showing that the top AI use case in 2025 is therapy and companionship, with "Organizing My Life" and "Finding Purpose" newly entering the top 10 How Erika fixed her dryer with an $8 solution instead of a $300 repair bill using nothing but photos and ChatGPT (and her cautionary tale about completely disassembling her sewing machine) Using AI for travel planning—creating a capsule wardrobe for a UK trip that fit in a single carry-on while having the perfect outfit for every occasion Planning a Thanksgiving dinner for four people on a $50 budget by giving AI specific constraints about budget, pantry inventory, and kitchen limitations Transforming an overwhelming bookshelf into a personalized reading priority list using AI visual recognition and data aggregation The 5-step AI problem-solving framework that works for any challenge: identify the specific problem, gather relevant information, ask "How can AI make this easier?", iterate if necessary, and know when to call in human expertise Try These Prompts From The Episode: Home Repairs Prompt Take photos of the damaged/broken area from multiple angles. Then tell ChatGPT: "I have an issue with my [appliance]. [Describe the specific problem in detail]. Here are photos of the problem area. What are my options for fixing this myself? I'd prefer a simple solution that doesn't require specialized tools or expertise if possible." Travel Planning Prompt "I'm planning a trip to [destination] from [dates]. I need to pack everything in a carry-on suitcase. Here are the details: Weather forecast: [temperatures and conditions] Special events: [list any special occasions requiring specific outfits] Staple items I own: [list your wardrobe basics] Access to laundry: [yes/no, when] Create a packing list that maximizes outfit combinations with minimal pieces, accounts for layering options, and ensures I have appropriate outfits for all activities." Budget Meal Planning Prompt "I need to prepare [meal/event] for [number] people with a budget of [$X]. Here are my constraints: Shopping at: [store name] Items I already have: [list pantry staples] Dietary preferences: [list any restrictions] Kitchen equipment limitations: [list any constraints] Create a complete menu that utilizes ingredients I already have to maximize my budget. Include a shopping list organized by store section." Bookshelf Organization Prompt Take photos of your bookshelves from different angles, then ask: "I've uploaded photos of my bookshelves. Please: Create a database of all the books you can identify (title, author) Look up Goodreads ratings for each book Note any major awards (Pulitzer, James Beard, etc.) Check which ones are popular on BookTok Reorganize the list based on my reading preferences: [list your interests]" Join the AI Queens Society to get 20 personal AI experiments you can try this weekend: AIQueensSociety.com Resources Mentioned: Erika's viral LinkedIn post on personal AI uses 20 Personal AI Experiments to Try This Weekend Harvard Business Review's research on Top AI Use Cases for 2025 Connect with Erika! Erika’s Creative Agency: ⁠⁠MileEndDigital.com⁠⁠ Erika’s Ai Empire: ⁠⁠https://aiqueens.substack.com/⁠⁠ Join the Ai Queens Society: ⁠⁠AiQueensSociety.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@erikatheaiqueen⁠ and ⁠⁠@aiqueenssociety⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠/ejejstanley